The following video of the last two minutes of the game, and the ensuing celebration, clearly shows New Jersey’s Patrik Elias flip the puck into his glove and then skate off the ice. After it goes into Elias’ glove, it’s not seen again. Elias goes to the Devils’ bench, then returns to the ice after a few moments for the handshake line.

Here’s the video in question Hammond speaks of. It’s a bit lengthy, so just skip to the closing seconds of the game to do your own Zapruder-film-like examination.

Hammond wonders if Elias would actually be so petty by keeping the puck. Taking the game puck was never a big deal to Chris Prongerback in 2010 so perhaps this is something the players just don’t give a crap about while fans go nuts over it. Besides, the Kings won the Stanley Cup, if Elias wants to keep the puck as some sort of moral victory, let ‘em have it.

I’ve watched the video and he definitely takes it and goes with it back to the bench. Is it a big deal? …Maybe? It is the first Stanley Cup win ever for the Kings. I think that even if they get the Cup, another commemorative item never hurts.

I did notice Elias talks to Brodeur after he grabs the puck while they skate back to the bench. Wonder if he got it for Marty as a puck from his potential last Stanley Cup Finals appearance?

(Note, I don’t want him to retire and I have faith in Marty’s abilities. Just making guesses.)

wisbadgers - Jun 19, 2012 at 10:48 AM

Who really cares? It’s not like the Kings have broken ground on a LA Kings Hall of Fame. The reality of it is that the puck would sit in someone’s office collecting dust as a paperweight.
The Kings won the Cup, that’s what really matters.

stakex - Jun 19, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Yeah theres little doubt that he takes the puck.

While its not a big deal really, and I doubt the Kings care very much…. it does show a level of immaturity on Elias’s part. It would be one thing if it wasn’t the final game of the series, and he did it to play mind games with the Kings for their upcoming games. Taking a teams cup winning puck though? What are you accomplishing other then being a sore loser?

Patrik Elias has won 2 Stanley Cups and has been regarded as the consummate professional on and off the ice throughout his entire career. I highly doubt he took the puck as a petty slight against the Kings – get over it.

Seriously? Who cares, the kings won the cup. That’s more important than a puck rite?

govtminion - Jun 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM

The reasoning is obvious. He’s holding it hostage, and will only give it back to the Kings if they agree to a massive contract with him.

Right?

Nah, kidding aside, I’d have a lot of trouble believing that a class act like Elias would pull something that petty and childish. If he did take it off the ice, he had a good reason beyond ‘this will be funny’ or something like that.